SAN FRANCISCO — Here’s one thing you never expected to say on the night the Giants received their World Series rings:

Where in the world would they be without Chris Heston?

Well, sure, at the bottom of the N.L. West in either case. But their rotation would be so much worse for wear. On the day Jake Peavy hit the disabled list, Heston’s stabilizing presence led the Giants to a 4-1 victory Saturday over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a merciful end to their eight-game losing streak.

Brandon Crawford set aside a 1-for-29 slump and hit a two-run home run while Buster Posey and Joe Panik hit RBI singles.

But on a night when fans paid respects to the accomplishments of Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey, the loudest cheers came two hours later when a 26-year-old rookie from East Carolina University walked off the mound in the eighth inning.

Heston (2-1) sank and cut his way through Arizona’s lineup for the second time in 11 days, holding the Diamondbacks to a run on five hits while striking out six in 72/3 innings.

Heston and Posey were the first Giants players to receive their rings, along with pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner, so they could get to work in the bullpen.

In three starts, Heston has looked anything but unprepared. Although he wasn’t on the original opening day roster, the Florida native stepped into the rotation for Matt Cain and has posted a 0.87 ERA along with a 16-to-5 strikeout/walk ratio over 202/3 innings.

What did Heston think about cutting the line and being the first Giant to receive his little blue Tiffany box?

“I was a little clueless what I was supposed to do,” Heston said with a laugh. “It was awesome. I gave it a quick look. … It looked real to me. So I closed the box and it gave me something to look forward to.”

And afterward, when Tony Bennett played in the ballpark for the first time all year and the Giants finally got to rock their new sound system in the remodeled clubhouse?

“That’s the first thing I did when I came in here, I was able to try it on,” Heston said.

Nori Aoki, who didn’t get a ring because he was on the losing side with the Kansas City Royals last October, sparked the Giants with a double in the first inning and scored on Panik’s single. In the third, Panik singled, advanced on a passed ball, took third on a ground out and scored on Posey’s two-out hit. Gregor Blanco singled in the fourth ahead of Crawford’s shot into the arcade, his third homer of the season.

Heston did the rest. He loaded the bases in the second inning but retired pitcher Rubby De La Rosa on a ground out. David Peralta hit a home run to start the fourth inning but the shot didn’t unnerve Heston, who continued to pound the zone and retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced.

Heston became the first Giants starter this season to record an out in the eighth inning, and would’ve completed the frame if he had done more than deflect Jake Lamb’s two-out single. When Bochy went to Sergio Romo to face Paul Goldschmidt, Heston, wearing his gold-threaded jersey, walked off to the loudest ovation of the night.

Bochy said he reminded Heston before the game to stay in his routine and not get distracted by the ceremony.

“But he’s got a nice calmness and confidence you like,” Bochy said. “I thought this was something they really needed, to try to remind them that they’re pretty good. … I’ll be honest, it’s been a rough week. I just wanted the club to get a win, for them.”

Romo pumped his fist after striking out Goldschmidt and Santiago Casilla brought the tying run to the plate before getting a double play to clinch the first home victory after opening with five losses.

Heston threw 112 pitches but the Giants are likely to move him up to take Peavy’s turn Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, buying them two extra days to figure out a longer term plan before they need a fifth starter.

Bochy didn’t even want to run through the candidates, although Ryan Vogelsong and Yusmeiro Petit remain on the roster.

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